2 Kings 4:22 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 4:22 mean?

2 Kings 4:22 describes a woman urgently asking her husband to send a servant and a donkey so she can quickly go to the "man of God" and then return. She is making arrangements to travel without explaining her reasons, showing her determination and haste.

The speaker is the Shunammite woman, who has just discovered her son is unresponsive and likely dead. She addresses her husband, requesting practical help—specifically, one of the young men (servants) and one of the donkeys—to make a fast journey to Elisha, the prophet. The verse shows her taking decisive action in a crisis, without revealing her distress to her husband.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 4:22

• "Called" (קָרָא, qara): This word means to call out or summon. The Shunammite woman is not just speaking but urgently summoning her husband, which highlights the seriousness of the moment.
• "Run" (רָץ, rats): The word carries the sense of moving quickly or with urgency. Her request to "run" to the man of God shows her determination not to waste any time.
• "Man of God" (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים, ish ha'elohim): This phrase refers specifically to Elisha, the prophet. Using this title emphasizes his role as a spiritual authority and someone who can help in desperate situations.

Why 2 Kings 4:22 matters

• This verse shows the Shunammite woman's faith and initiative; she seeks help from Elisha without hesitation, even before explaining the situation to her husband.
• The urgency and secrecy in her actions highlight the seriousness of her son's condition and her trust in the prophet's power.
• Understanding her request in its original language reveals the intensity and decisiveness of her response, which sets up the dramatic events that follow in the story.